DirectTV on board

Just a guess, 'cause I didn't see the satellite dish in either of those posts... but I think you're still going to need one of the "in motion" dishes to track on your boat (even at the dock - unless you put the dish on the dock).

So, a few questions for the boat (or boats) that have installed the "in motion" satellite dishes: how do they work on the C-Dory? And, do you find you use it a lot? Was it worth the cost?

We find that we live differently on the boat and spend very little time with the TV on. We've had satellite dishes on our coaches and they got plenty of use. It seems that we spend more time reading or going over charts when we're settled in for the evening while cruising.

TIA

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Jim, last Saturday I was at the Oceanside marina looking over a Roughwater 36 my neighbor is trying to sell for his dad. He (along with a few other boats there) has a fixed DirectTV dishes mounted on the cabin roof. I specifically asked about it and apparently they get excellent reception in spite of the motion in the slip. His dad says he only loses signal in a really hard rainstorm.

Surprised the heck outta me.

The only person I know with a C-Dory and a motion stabilized satellite dish is one of Byrdman's friends down in Alabama.

Don
 
That would be me. I was in the restaurant business for years and rarely worked less than a 12 hour day and was usually not home until after midnight. My wife on the other hand always did and still does prefer to be an early to bed person. So, I stay up and watch James Bond marathons or what ever and she hops in the v-berth @ 8. The reception is great even while underway. I added an AC unit to the roof also. I just run 2 Honda 2k gens, leave the bugs and heat outside and watch tv until I pass out. We do use a good quality CO2 detector and have always managed to find a place to put the gens off the boat locked up to something if shore power is not available. Works for us. The tracker and TV run on 12v the gens are for AC or heat, fridge and charger. A picture of the very unattractive set up is in my album if this doesn't work. They have come out with a smaller tracker in the last month. Would do it over again.PIC00009.thumb.jpgFall06185.thumb.jpg
 

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Jim & Phil,
When living aboard our Krogen 39, we had a home type DirecTV dish installed on the upper boat deck for use at the slip. With the boat tied snugly, it worked well except with 40kt plus winds.

As we started to cruise the PNW, we found that simply moving the dish to a 132 degree compass heading brought in the signal well at any dock with an open view to the S. We got good reception up close to the N. end of Vancouver Is. This does not work at anchor though, no matter how calm an anchorage!

We have two receivers in the house and would simply unplug one and take it along. It was basically free satelite TV while away from home. We haven't tried this on the TC255 and probably won't.

Go Gators!
 
I haven't seen the DirecTV portable system but I bet it is based on a system sold by RaySat that used a small flat panel phased array antenna. They originally sold it for installation in vehicles but it could be adapted to a boat.

If anyone just has to have it, I know where you can get a Tracvision G6 stabilized marine terminal for a really cheap price. It would fit on the roof of a CD22 and make you the topic of conversation at just about any marina. I would have to look, but it might fit inside the faux stack on the C-Ranger 25.
 
tpbrady":19p1wkmg said:
If anyone just has to have it, I know where you can get a Tracvision G6 stabilized marine terminal for a really cheap price. It would fit on the roof of a CD22 and make you the topic of conversation at just about any marina. I would have to look, but it might fit inside the faux stack on the C-Ranger 25.
Click to expand...

That would be me. :lol:

Warren
 
We carry a small 12v. tv, with a pull out antenna, and a screen about the size of the 'window' in a blackberry cell phone. We can only get reception near a town but it is usually very clear since so many pixels are jammed into such a small space (we have had sports fans over to our boat to see The Game when they didn't have sat t.v. on their boats and their big sets were full of snow).
Now, everyone is (thankfully) different, so our t.v. use for weather and news is very different from the use of many others (we watch Sea Hawks and Gators with our binoculars, not t.v.) so our setup wouldn't work for many -- but it is a cheap, simple alternative that might be suitable for some.
 
El and Bill":mgjdaxla said:
Now, everyone is (thankfully) different, so our t.v. use for weather and news is very different from the use of many others (we watch Sea Hawks and Gators with our binoculars, not t.v.)
Click to expand...

Couldn't have said it better----binoculars :thup tv :thdown :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
I keep seeing these initials used “TV” and sometimes “T.V.” .
What is TV? Am I missing something? Should I be getting it for my boat?
_________
Dave dlt.gif
 
I remember back in the early 60's when I was around 12 or 13 watching a space launch while on my father's boat. We were on vacation and crossing the Great South Bay in Long Island, NY. We stopped and anchored to watch John Glen and Walter Cronkite on a 10 inch or so portable black and white tv with rabbit ears antenna that had a huge battery pack. I guess the signal from the Empire State Building was good since I remember seeing the launch to this day.

What is direct TV?
 
Pete in NY":3v052cya said:
What is direct TV?
Click to expand...

Signal comes from a satellite. The satellite is in geosynchronous orbit, which
means it stays in the same spot of the sky. Allows you to aim the antenna
once without having to track the satellite. It's a pay service. Costs about
what cable costs (more or less). When I last looked into it, there were
issues receiving local stations. If available, they cost extra. I last
checked into this 5 years ago.

Mike
 
What a small world. I just saw the Sirius Backseat TV article and called my 'connection' at Car Toys. He called his Sirius rep.

Unlike the DirectTV satellite dish which must be relatively stationary, this unit receives a signal while moving.

The biggest drawback to the system right now is channel selection...there are only 1-3 channels and they are all kids channels. It was designed to keep kids occupied on a long trip.

It does look promising. I too would want this basically for news and weather reports.

-Sarge
 
I don't think you need a dish for this one.

satgo_open_view.jpg


satgo_side_view.jpg


satgo_banner.jpg


Enjoy DIRECTV® service wherever you go with the DIRECTV® Sat-Go ("Satellite-To-Go"). The DIRECTV Sat-Go incorporates a TV, DIRECTV Receiver and DIRECTV Antenna into one conveniently portable design so that you can get 100% digital-quality television when camping, tailgating, RVing, sitting by the dock or even watching at home. (Provided the user is within range of the DIRECTV signal.) The built-in antenna ensures a clear picture no matter where you go, and the suitcase-like carrying case makes it easy to get there.
Features:
17" LCD screen lets you see all the action
Standard AC/DC power adapters extend your viewing time
100% digital quality picture and sound - just like watching at home
Rechargeable battery lets you watch for hours.
 
I suspect that you will still require a clear view of the Southern Sky and it will not work under motion. There is a two axis system called "follow me" which works at anchoro--and is used by many cruising trawlers. Cost about $900 for the tracking device.
 
Yall Got My head spinning a bit... :teeth
So, if what I am reading from Dreamer is correct... I just need to take the receiver box, and the small desk top TV, a few cables,.....and find some type of "portable" sat antenna.... and I am ready. For some reason, without pondering this much at all.... I figured the geeks would have tied in the sat antenna outside my house, with the receiver boxes inside as a "single unit"....rather than individual parts.... But then.... I have not given it much thought.

So...to watch Da Braves Wednesday night from the boat, all I need is that portable sat antenna added to what I already have.... Hummmm

and if that works.... just cable it thru a Sonly LCD 720p Home Theater Projector, point it at a portable 84" screen.....and WHAMMY.... an island drive in/beach in theater.....for a select few of your boating friends on that privat island.... Oh my... this might get real fun fast....and allow me to use the baseball season to be field trained and ready for SEC Football...

.... and Bill.... careful when you spot one of those Sea Hawks with feathers..... ya might of had too much of Terry's Red stuff.... rumor has it that there is really no such bird???

Only 150 days till Auburn's Kick-Off!! War Eagle!!!!

Byrdman
 
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